Starting mechanism for automobiles



June 10, 1924. 13,97 443 C. H HODGKNS STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 6 192] Patented June 10,1924.

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mm a. aopoxnvs, or rrr'rsnonon. rnulvsrnvenm. ASSIGNOR T wnsrme xoosn menus at manornc'ronmo comrnnv, a. CORPORATION or PENNSYL- VLHIA.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed January a, 1921. Serial No. 485,412.

To all whom.z't may concern:

Be it known that I, Cnsnnns H. .Hooeruns, a sub'ect of the King of Great Britain, and a resi ent of Pittsburgh, in the county I of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Starting Mechanisms for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

M invention relates to starting mechanisms and, particularly, to starting mechanisms for automobiles, wherein pinions are actuated radially into mesh with engine gear wheels.

One object of my invention is to provide a starting mechanism of the above-indicated character that shall'so support the starting motor and control thennotor armature as to quickly and efliciently swing a. pinion into 80 mesh with the engine gear wheel upon ener 'zation of the motor.

n starting an internal-combustion engine by means of an electric motor, it is desirable to provide means for automatically connecting the motor to the engine upon energizetion of such motor. In many systems now in service, a motor pinion is moved longitudinally along the armature shaft into mesh with the engine gear wheel, upon energization of the motor. Such longitudinal movement of the pinion along the armature shaft is generally effected by means of a screw-threaded shaft or any other suitable means. However. necting the starting motor to the internalcombustion engine necessitates the rotating of the pinion within'certain speed limits to effect meshing of the pinion teeth with the teeth of the engine gear wheel. Moreover, the motor. which is operating at a considerable speed before meshing of the pinion with the gear wheel, is subjected to considerable shock by the sudden application of the load upon meshing of the pinion with the gear wheel.

In a startin mechanism constructed in accordance wit my invention, a pinion is mounted upon the shaft of the starting motor and the motor is pivotally supported to permit the swinging of the pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel, upon energization of the motor. In order to efiect such movement of the motor and the pinion. a latch and ratchet wheel are provided for such method of con-.

thereby actuate the so locking the motor armature es to limit 66 its movement until meshing between the pinion and the gear wheel has been effected. Upon meshing of the pinion with the gear wheel. the latch is disengaged from the ratchet wheel to permit the free rotation of the motor armature for cranking the internal-combustion engine. During the swinging movement of the pinion towards the engine gear wheel. the pinion efl'ects a small movement of rotation in order to insure :the meshing of the gear teeth.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure l, is a side elevational view of a starting mechanism constructed in accord once with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the mcchanism shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line IIL-Hl' ofFig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, an electric mo or 1 is provided for cranking an internalcombustion engine 2. The engine 2 is provided with an engine gear wheel 3, which is mounted upon a shaft 4. A pinion 5, which is mounted upon the motor shaft 6, 8! is moved radially into mesh with the engine gear wheel 3 in a manner to be hereinafter set forth.

An arm 7 of substantially L-shape, which is bolted to the interne'lcombustion engine '85 2 or to any other suitable su port. carries a small shaft 8 which pivotal y supports the starting motor 1. A spring 9 connected between a pin 10 on the arm 7, and :1 lug 11 which extends from the frame of the motor. Such spring member serves to bias the motor to its inoperative position in which the lug 11 engages :1 lug 12, whie'h'extends from the arm 7, as shown in Fig. Sof the drawing.

A ratchet wheel 14, which is fixedly mounted upon the armature shaft 6, is en gaged by a latch 15 for limiting the movement of the motor armature when the motor is started from rest to efi'ect the movement of the motor'about its pivotal support and inion into mesh with the engine gear wheel The latch member 15 is pivotally mounted upon the arm 7. as shown in Figs. 2 and-3 of the drawing. and is provided with a. cam ml surface, 16 near: the thereof to be enaged by a. if. Th win 7 is mounted 13d serves to upon the frame at the :1.

disengage the latch member 15 from the pinion out of mesh with the engine gear moun wheel, the motor circuit is com leted byany suitable means (not shown). e armature tends to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, but'such action is prevented by the latch member and the ratchet wheel 14. Accordingly, the reaction of the torque between the motor parts causes the motor 1 to be moved bodily, in a clockwise direction, about the shaft 8. The. latch 15 also acts as a fulcrum for the armature shaft, and the tor ue applied to the armature shaft assists t e movement. Inasmuch as the latch member 15 is mounted ii on the stationary arm 7, it is asparent't at the motor armature and, accor mgly, the pinion 5 effect a small movement of rotation while the pinion is being swung into mesh with the engine gear wheel.

Upon meshing of the inion with the engingugear wheel, the pin 17, which is upon the frame of the motor, en-

gages the end of the latch member 15 and releases the motor armature for cranking the engine. The disengaged osition of the latch member 15 is indicated y dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

The pinion remains 1n mesh 'with the fly wheel gear by reason of the reaction upon the motor durin the application of torque to the engine. is reaction tends to revolve the motor in a clockwise direction about its point of pivotal su port.

When the engine starts an the speed of thefl wheel gear exceeds that of the pinion, the y wheel gear exerts a force upon the pinion which causes the motor to revolve in a counter-clockwise direction about the shaft 8 and thereby diser fiilige the pinion from the fly wheel gear. e spring 9 also tends to return the motor to its normal or inoperative position. v

When the rapidly rotating motor returns to its inoperative position, the pin 17 permits the latch 15 to fall, but, lay reason of the curved surface of the latter, it'does not engage the ratchet wheel 14 until the speed of the latter has fallen to a safe minimum rate. The starting mechanism is then in readiness for the succeeding operation.

The starting mechanismabove described is very simple in construction and operation and is operated automatically upon energization of the motor for quickly meshing the motor pinion with the engine gear wheel. Moreover, the limiting of the rotative movement of the motor armature until after the meshing operation insures the gear teeth against damage.

Modifications in the mechanism and in the arrangement and location of parts may be made Within the spirit and scope of my invention, and such modifications are intended" to be covered. by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a motor, a motor pinion, and an engine gear wheel, of a pivotal sugport for said motor to permit said pinion ing actuated radially into mesh with the englue ear wheel, and a latch member for engaging the motor armature to positivel lock it. against rotation when the pinion 18 out of mesh with the engine gear wheel.

2. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a motor,.a motor pinion, and an engine gear wheel, of a ivotal sup rt for said motor, and means $01 positives looking' the armature of said motor against rotation when the motor pinion is out of mesh with the engine gear wheel.

3. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a motor, a pinion mounted on the shaft of said motor, and an engine gear wheel, of means for pivotally supporting said motor, means for positively coking the motor armature against rotation to swing said pinion into mesh with the gear wheel upon energizing the motor, and means for releasing the locln'ng means upon meshing of the pinion with said gear wheel.

4. In a starting mechanism, the combina. tion with a motor, a pinion mounted on the shaft of said motor, and an engine gear wheel, of means for pivotally supportin the motor, means comprising a ratchet wheel and a latch member for so locking the motor armature as to'swing the motor inion into mesh with the engine gear whee upon energizing the motor, and means for releasing the armature upon meshing of the pinion with said gear wheel. 5. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a motor having an armature, a pinion mounted on the armatureshaft, and an engine gear wheel, of meansfor pivotally mounting the motor to permit the radial movement of said pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel, a ratchet wheel mounted on the armature shaft, .a latch member for engaging said ratchet wheel and means for releasing the ratchet whee from said latch member upon meshing of the motor pinion with the engine gear wheel.

6. In' a starting mechanism, the combination with a motor having an armature, a pinion mounted on the armature shaft, and an engine gear wheel, of means for pivotally supporting said motor, a. ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft of said armature, and a latch member for engaging said ratchet wheel to limit the rotative more- Ill ment of said armature when the said pinion is out of mesh with the engine gear wheel.

7. In a starting mechanism the combination with a motor having an armature. a pinion mounted on tho armature shaft. and an engine yar wheel. f a supporting arm, means for pivotaily mouni'ingthe niotorupon said arm to 'pPrmit the radial movement of the motor ninion inir mesh with said engine gear wheel. a ratchet whee! fixedly mounted on the shaft of said armature, a

latch member pivotally mounted on said arm for engaging said ratchet wheel, and means comprising a pin mounted on the motor for moving: said latch member out of engagement with the ratchet wheel upon meshing of said pinion with the engine gear wheel,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of Docember. 1920.

CHARLES H. HODGKINS. 

